Reflecting marker



May 23, 1939. H. wv STODDARD 2,159,458

REFLECTING MARKER Filed April 11, 193s y HUGH I/V. roooA/eo FOR THE FIRM A Tree/vens.

PatenteclMay 23, 1939 f UNTEDL STATES PATENT OFFICE REFLECTING MARKER y Hugh W. Stoddard, Dallas, Tex.

Application April 11, 1938, Serial No. 201,351

2 Claims.

My invention relates to location indicators, particularly to markers for the guidance of motorists. n

Various types of light-reflecting elements have been employed on location-indicating devices to derive luminosity from automobile or street lights. The general object of the present invention is to provide, in combination with such a light-reflecting element, a standard or support that serves as an efficient mounting for the element, and cooperates with the element in the role of marking a location.

One object of my invention is to provide a marker standard that lends itself to efficient anchorage in soil or other supporting material. A feature sought in my invention is a choice of two visible coniigurations for the marker to be had merely by selecting the depth to which the marker is buried in the supporting material. 20 A further object in mind is to provide a durable but low-cost construction for a marker.

The above and other objects and advantages will be apparent in my detailed description to follow, considered with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one form of my marker;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the marker;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a second form of my marker; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary'side View of the marker shown in Fig. 4.

Figs. l to 3 show a metal standard cast in one piece, the standard having at its upper end a cylindrical portion IU to seat a pair of oppositely directed light-reilecting elements II. In the usual installation such a marker is placed at a roadside with the axis lof the light-reflecting elements disposed substantially in the direction of travel. p

Integral with and encompassing the cylindrical portion Il! of the standard is a pair of lateral flanges I2 in a plane substantially perpendicular to the 1ight-reflecting axis. The two lateral flanges I2, considered together, have an upper portion I3 that slightly widens from top to bottom, an intermediate portion I4 that widens to a marked degree, and finally a lower portion I5 that forms a pair of relatively extensive lateral wings I6. Also integral with and extending downward from the cylindrical portion I0 of the standard is a second pair of vertical flanges i'I, 55 preferably approximately in the plane through the light-reflecting axis. The two flanges I1 do not protrude extensively and may be of uniform cross-section; in fact, in my preferred configuration shown in the drawing, these two flanges may aptly be termed ribs At the bottom of the standard the two sets of vertical flanges terminate in a pair of horizontal flanges I8.

The marker standard is by preference painted white, or white with black stripes, and is buried in the ground either to a point above the level I9 or between that level and a level 20 depending upon whether the visible conguration desired is that of the upper portion I3, or that of the upper portion I3 together with the intermediate portion I4 of the marker. One function of the pair of flanges I2 is to provide a desired extent of visible surface.

A second function of the lateral flanges I2, particularly the lowermost portions thereof, is to provide to a major extent the anchorage for the marker. Cooperating therewith as anchorf age means are the flanges II and the flanges `I8. Both of these flanges I1 and I8 resist any stresses against the embedded standard in the plane of ilarrges I2, and flange I8 also resists any force tending to lift the embedded standard vertically.

'Ihe light-reflecting elements I I may be of any type known to the art, but I contemplate using elements that tend to diffuse light over the body of the reflector. In they preferred form of my invention, for example, I may employ the lightreflecting elements disclosed in the Bone Patent No. 1,872,643.

The second form of my invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is similar to the form just described with the addition of a sign panel 2I. This sign panel 2l is located below and adjacent the cylindrical portion IIla of the standard and is both integral with and in the same plane with the lateral flanges I 2a of the standard. Preferably both faces of the panel 2I are framed by marginal flanges 22, the front and rear ribs I'Ia connecting therewith. This second standard, like the flrst, may be anchored in the ground by the two wing portions I6a, the ribs I'Ia, and the bottom flanges Ia.

Indicia such as shown at 23 in Fig. 4 are painted on the panel 2i, preferably against a white background, and are illuminated by light diffused from the reflecting elements II.

The two preferred forms of my invention shown and described in detail will suggest to those skilled in the art various changes and modications that do not depart from the essence of my conception. I reserve the right to al1 such changes and modifications that properly come within the scope of my appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a marker of the character described, the combination with a pair of oppositely disposed coaxial light-reflecting elements of a cast metal supporting body adapted to be partially embedm ded in soil or the like, said body having: a cylindrical portion housing said elements; vertical anges perpendicular to the axis of said elements to provide light-reflecting surfaces on opposite sides of the body, the lower portions of said u flanges being widened to provide the major anthe body to oppose any force tending to Withdraw the body from an embedded position.

2. A luminous sign of the character described, having a pairof oppositely disposed coaxial lightreecting elements in combination with a cast metal supporting body, said body comprising: a cylindrical portion housing said elements; a panel portion for indicia adjacent thereto; vertical flanges perpendicular to the axis of said elements, said flanges being widened at the lower portions thereof to provide anchorage for the body when embedded in soil or the like; vertical flanges in the plane of said axis to cooperate with the rst-narned flanges in anchoring the body; and a horizontal flange at the lower end of the body to oppose any force tending to withdraw the body from an anchored position.

HUGH W. STODDARD. 

